FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A local volunteer firefighter died in a crash Wednesday morning in Fayette County.

Brian Weigle, 19, was a volunteer firefighter with the Collinsburg Volunteer Fire Company in West Newton.

Just before 7 a.m., a car going southbound on Route 51 in Franklin Township crossed the median and slammed head-on into a tractor-trailer.

State police say several factors were involved.

“Speed was a factor, the front tires of the vehicle – there was minimum tread depth on that and also lack of seatbelt usage,” State Police Sgt. Ken Vogel said.

Vogel says the roads were slushy and slightly snow-covered when the crash happened.

Weigle started as a junior firefighter when he was 14. His father, Jerry, is a firefighter, as well as his brother Corey. His mother, Karen, is an EMT, and so was Brian.

The nearby Rostraver Fire Department lowered its flag to half-staff in tribute.

Brian’s mother says her son loved serving the community. He wanted to become a nurse and was studying at Westmoreland County Community College.

RELATED LINKS

More Local News
More Fayette County News